Quirky Japanese DS Games

June 3, 2009 11:02 AM

What are some fun, unusual Japanese-only DS games?

My coworker is headed back to Japan on vacation and has offered to pick up some things for me while he's there. My Japanese is fairly good, though not nearly native. Last time I picked out a Cooking Master game(しゃべる！DSお料理ナビ), which I loved, and a Kanji practice game which I have mostly ignored. I'd like to get something fun and quirky. Like Face Training or the Sommelier game. Any suggestions?

posted by Caravantea to sports, hobbies, & recreation (9 comments total)

Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan

They did release a game like it using songs from the western world in the game Elite Beat Agents.
posted by royalsong at 11:12 AM on June 3

There's the infamous witch touching game, the driver's license examination game (including written portion), the stock trading RPG, and the taiko drumming game.

There's also plenty of weird puzzle games: Go, Mojipittan, etc. Then, of course, there are entire genres that don't exist here: exercise, shopping guides, guides to wine (2), food, and lots of brain training. I'm not sure how many of those are interesting to you.
posted by shii at 11:23 AM on June 3

2nding Taiko no Tatsujin DS
posted by gnutron at 11:38 AM on June 3

The Arkanoid DS paddle is only available in Japan - it's compatible with the US versions of Arkanoid and Space Invaders.
posted by Gortuk at 12:04 PM on June 3

It requires a moderate level of Japanese to really get much out of, but Houkago Shounen (放課後少年, "After-School Boy") is definitely one of those "only in Japan" games, and I've really enjoyed playing it. I had to ask around at a few different game stores before finding one that had a copy, but it shouldn't be too hard to find.
posted by pts at 12:42 PM on June 3

Seconding the paddle as an addition that really changes Arkanoid and Space Invaders into something more.

Slide Adventure Mag Kid is a quirky Japan-only DS game that requires an equally quirky peripheral. There's a laser mouse that attached to the bottom and as you slide your DS around, the character on-screen moves in his world. It's tough to explain, but a very interesting sensation.
posted by Durhey at 1:55 PM on June 3

Only the first Professor Layton game has yet been released in the US.
posted by yeti at 2:54 PM on June 3

Right now, Mario and Luigi RPG 3 is only available in Japanese.
posted by purephase at 6:41 PM on June 3

立体ピクロス (Cube Picross) is not yet released in the USA as far as I know, and is a hellishly addictive puzzle game.
posted by mezamashii at 2:17 AM on June 4 [1 favorite]